Why you should validate email addresses

Validating email addresses is key because a valid email address is a real inbox where your message can land. 

Without this process, invalid addresses clutter your list, wasting effort and possibly harming your email campaign success. Checking for valid emails means you’re reaching actual people and boosting the impact of your messages.

The most important email validation rules to consider

When doing email validation, it’s essential to keep the following rules in mind:

Using regular expressions (regex)

Regular expressions, or regex, are powerful tools for validating email addresses. They help make sure that an email follows the acceptable email prefix formats.

Regex looks at the pattern of the email address to check whether it has the right parts like an @ symbol, a domain name, and a domain suffix (.com, .net, etc.).

Thanks to using regex, you can quickly sift through a list of emails and identify which ones are likely to be real and which ones don’t meet the basic criteria.

This prevents obvious errors and typos from creeping into your email list.

Validating in PHP

Validating email addresses in PHP is about taking steps to eliminate any invalid email addresses. PHP validation goes beyond just checking the structure. It can also verify whether the email address is functional and capable of receiving emails.

This involves checking the email against a set of rules defined in PHP’s filter functions, which are designed to recognize valid email formats and reject those that don’t comply.

When you validate emails in PHP, you’re adding an extra layer of assurance that your email list is not only structurally sound but also filled with addresses that are active and ready to engage with your content.

We think this step is vital for keeping your email list healthy and your email marketing efforts effective. All of that while minimizing bounces and maximizing delivery rates.

Validating in Laravel

Validating email addresses in Laravel helps you catch invalid or inactive addresses before they enter your database. This popular PHP framework offers built-in validation rules that make it easy to check if an email address is formatted correctly and is active.

When you use Laravel’s validation system, it automatically checks the email against a comprehensive set of criteria.

This means you’re less likely to end up with email addresses that can’t receive messages. Filtering out these problematic addresses early on is essential if you want to maintain a cleaner, more reliable email list.

Overall, this process is the way to keep your communication channels open and effective.

Using established libraries for validation

Leveraging established libraries for email validation is like having a trusted expert by your side. These libraries have been developed and refined over time. They incorporate a wide range of checks to identify invalid or inactive addresses.

They go beyond basic format checks to see whether an email domain exists and can receive messages. Using these libraries means you’re applying a wealth of knowledge and expertise to your email validation process.

With this approach, your email list is not only free from formatting mistakes but also from addresses that are no longer in use.

Once you start relying on established libraries, you’ll be able to have a comprehensive approach to validation – something essential for effective email communication and engagement.

Keeping your rules up to date

Keeping your validation rules up to date is how you catch disposable email addresses and invalid email addresses. As the world evolves, so do the tactics used to create temporary or fake email addresses.

These disposable addresses can not only clutter your email list but also lead to inaccurate analytics and wasted resources. Updating your rules means staying ahead of the curve with how clean and effective your lists are.

So start incorporating new patterns and criteria for what constitutes a valid email to accurately identify and remove addresses that won’t contribute to your campaign’s success.

Where traditional email validation rules fail

Traditional email validation rules are great for checking the simplest parts of an email address, like if it has an “@” symbol and a domain name.

But, they have their limits.

These basic checks can’t tell you if an email is old and not used any more, if it’s a spam trap, a catch-all address, or a disposable email that’s only meant to be used for a short time and then thrown away.

This means even if an email passes these simple tests, it might still not be good for your email list. That’s because it won’t reach a real person interested in your messages.

So, while these traditional rules are a good first step, they’re not enough to make sure your email list is clean and effective.

The alternative – using email validation services

As an alternative, you can use email validation services.

Validation of outdated and non existent emails

These services check email addresses against current databases to see if they are still active. This means you can remove temporary email addresses that no longer exist or are no longer in use. It’s a way to keep your list fresh and full of contacts who can actually receive your messages.

Validation of disposable addresses

When validating email addresses, such tools can identify and remove disposable ones. Disposable addresses are often used for a short period and then abandoned. 

By spotting these, you can be sure your list doesn’t waste space on emails that will never engage with your content.

Validation of spam traps and catch all addresses

Email validation services also help identify tricky addresses like spam traps and catch-all accounts. Spam traps look like normal emails but are used to catch spammers. Catch-all addresses accept all emails sent to a domain, even if the inbox doesn’t exist. Removing these from your list protects your sender reputation and improves the health of your email campaigns.

Using email validation services means your email list is cleaner, more accurate, and more effective – all so your messages reach real, interested people.

Use Bouncer to validate your email lists – quick summary and call to action to try all of this for free

 
Luckily for you, you don’t need to look far for a solid and reliable email validation solution.

We have one just for you.

If you’re looking to boost your email marketing campaigns, you should do it with Bouncer!

Aren’t you tired of spam complaints and undelivered messages? Bouncer’s email address validation API is your solution.

It checks email address syntax, verifies against the domain name system, and even tests the simple mail transfer protocol to ensure deliverability. With Bouncer, you can clean your lists, keeping them free of invalid emails and ready for successful campaigns.

Don’t let outdated or fake emails drag you down. Get started now and take the first step towards a cleaner, more effective email list, full of valid email addresses only.
 

Get a cleaner email list today

There you have it – your guide to fighting the chaos of an email list.

With the right validation tools, like Bouncer, and a solid understanding of the rules we’ve discussed, you’re well on your way to improving your email marketing efforts.

No more worrying about undelivered messages or damaging your sender reputation with outdated or fake emails.

It’s time to take control, clean up your list, and start seeing the results you deserve.

Why not give Bouncer a free try and experience the difference a clean email list can make for your campaigns?

Get started now and step up your email marketing game.

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